Written & Researched by Natalie Boquist
Overview
Diabetes is a condition that affects over 422 million people around the world (Diabetes). Although there currently is no cure for any of the types of diabetes, treatments have benefitted highly from increased research over the past few decades. The two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2, are each very different conditions; however, treatments for the two are often similar.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that often appears in childhood or adolescence and can be caused by different genetic or viral conditions. The body destroys its own insulin-producing cells, which means that people with type 1 diabetes have to produce insulin in other ways. If enough insulin is not produced, a person’s blood sugar can increase to dangerous levels (Type 1 Diabetes).
The goal of type 1 diabetes treatments is to maintain a normal blood sugar level. While watching what one eats is important in managing type 1 diabetes, an outside source of insulin is always needed in order to manage type 1 (Type 1 Diabetes).
There are many ways people administer insulin. Because of stomach enzymes, insulin cannot simply be taken in a pill, it must be delivered directly into the body. One of the common ways this happens is insulin injections, which involve using a syringe to inject the insulin under the skin. Also, insulin pumps are popular options for diabetes treatment: they deliver predetermined doses of insulin to the body through a tube inserted under the abdomen (Type 1 Diabetes).
Type 2 diabetes occurs when cells become resistant to insulin and don’t take in enough sugar, which often occurs in instances of overweight and inactivity. To manage this condition, exercise and controlling one’s diet is important is keeping blood sugar at the right level. At times, insulin can also be necessary, just like with type 1 treatments (Type 2 Diabetes).
For both types of diabetes, blood sugar monitoring is the most vital part of treatment, so that dangerous levels can be corrected before the damage is done. Each person’s diabetes treatment is different, and is designed to help them manage their symptoms in the best way possible.
References
“Diabetes.” WHO, https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes#tab=tab_1. Accessed 2 Feb. 2022.
“Type 1 Diabetes.” Mayoclinic.Org, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353017. Accessed 3 Feb. 2022.
“Type 2 Diabetes.” Mayoclinic.Org, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351199. Accessed 3 Feb. 2022.